NEW YORK -- Amidst the assorted events during the just wrapped Advertising Week in New York, SHOOT connected with Nick Law, chief creative officer of Publicis Groupe and president of Publicis Communications, in-between his two on-stage sessions. Law began the Publicis chapter in his career back in May after a lengthy creatively groundbreaking tenure at R/GA where he last served as VP and global CCO. SHOOT ’s conversation with him centered on his contributions to a “15x15” presentation marking the 15th... Read More, Comment

LONDON -- The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which is part of Ascential plc, has announced that €114,450 (some $133,000 in U.S. dollars) of the proceeds from the 2018 Glass Lions: The Lions for Change will be used to fund initiatives furthering research into identifying and combating harmful stereotypes in advertising. The beneficiaries are The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and UN Women’s Unstereotype Alliance. The Geena Davies Institute on Gender in Media is the first and... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- The American Film Institute (AFI) announced the films that will be featured in the New Auteurs and American Independents sections at AFI Fest 2018. Highlighting rising feature film directors, New Auteurs is the festival’s platform for upcoming filmmakers from all over the world to showcase their new films. This year, the section is comprised of 18 films, with 12 helmed by female filmmakers. The American Independents section represents the best of independent filmmaking this year. Pushing... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- In his opening remarks on Sunday (9/30) at the 2018 Emerging Cinematographer Awards (ECA) ceremony and screening, the International Cinematographers Guild (ICG, IATSE Local 600) was described by its president, Steven Poster, ASC, as “the only organization in the world that honors its newest talent.” And it’s an honor, continued Poster, that gives a pivotal “career boost to deserving union members not yet designated as directors of photography.” Earning ECA distinction is a momentum builder that... Read More, Comment

TORONTO (AP) -- When Bradley Cooper saw Lady Gaga perform "La Vie en Rose" at a fundraiser at the home of entrepreneur Sean Parker, it wasn't one of the important moments along the road to making "A Star Is Born." It was, Cooper says, THE moment. "She demolished the room," he recalls, still wide-eyed about it. "I knew that was plutonium." The next day, Cooper went to Gaga's home in Malibu to confirm that what he had seen the night before was real. He arrived hungry. Gaga — whose friends call her by her real... Read More, Comment

It's hard not to go into "A Star Is Born " without a lot of prejudgments. Even if you haven't seen the other three versions, the mere fact that they exist, and with such formidable talent, is enough to make anyone scoff at the fact that Hollywood keeps dusting off this well-worn story about fame and love and addiction. And then you throw in the fact that it was made by a first-time director, who also happens to be a movie star, no less, and the whole thing seems even more dubious. Leave that... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- After Rashida Jones exited Pixar's "Toy Story 4" in 2017 she noted that the studio, after 25 years in business, had not made a single feature film directed by a woman, calling it "a culture where women and people of color do not have an equal creative voice." So when Pixar co-founder and CEO John Lasseter stepped down earlier this year after acknowledging "missteps" in his behavior with employees, he was more than another casualty in the long list of film industry power players toppled by the #... Read More, Comment

KINSALE, Ireland -- BBDO shops scored top honors at this past weekend’s Kinsale Shark Awards and Festival. AMV BBDO London scored the Grand Prix for Bodyform/Libresse’s “Blood Normal,” which also picked up a Creative Bravery Award. “Blood Normal” shows women dealing with their periods in real-life scenarios, breaking taboos about dealing with menstrual cycles. Daniel Wolfe via Somesuch directed the piece, part of a campaign in which the feminine care brands also commissioned aspiring filmmakers to make short films... Read More, Comment

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- Tool of North America has added director James Frost to its live-action roster for worldwide representation. He had formerly been handled by Rattling Stick for spots and branded content. Born in London, Frost has spent the last 20 years of his career in L.A. working with leading brands and artists, including Radiohead, Alabama Shakes, OK Go, Norah Jones, Coldplay, Pearl Jam, The White Stripes, and Kylie Minogue. Among his notable credits are music videos for Coldplay’s “Yellow,” Norah Jones’ “... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Wondros has added director/DP Sean Thonson to its roster for commercial and branded content representation in the U.S. Thonson’s spot credits span virtually every major prestige automaker ranging from BMW to Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, as well as clients including Sears, Unilever, Brita, Schering-Plough, Corona and Yamaha. His groundbreaking work for Dow and BC Tourism garnered much acclaim. And he’s expanded his repertoire to include food and fashion, humor, lifestyle, and tabletop work. Prior to... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Production company Serial Pictures has signed directing duo BRTHR for branded entertainment, commercial, music video and digital representation in North America. Comprised of filmmakers Alex Lee and Kyle Wightman, BRTHR has directed music videos for Travis Scott, The Weeknd, Iggy Azalea, Miley Cyrus, and Charli XCX, among others. They also bring a strong voice to the commercial world, helming spots for international brands such as Adidas, Yves Saint Laurent, Converse and Helmut Lang. Their most... Read More, Comment

SYDNEY -- M&C Saatchi Group’s film and television production studio THIS. has unveiled its first major project, a two-part documentary series in partnership with National Geographic, Cisco Systems, Dimension Data, Canon Australia and Land Rover South Africa. Hosted by cricket legend Kevin Pietersen and outback wrangler Matt Wright with conservationist and Canon Australia photographer Julia Wheeler, the documentary series will follow efforts to save the critically endangered rhinoceros, whose... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Industry vets Dom Thomas, Morgan Clement, James Cunningham and Justin Benoliel have partnered to launch Object & Animal (O&A), a creative studio with offices in London and Los Angeles. The new venture opens with a roster of directors which includes Nick Walker, Karim Huu Do, FKA Twigs, Luis Cervera, Diana Kunst and Bright Black. Walker was on the A+ roster at Academy Films in London before joining O&A. Huu Do comes over from Caviar. FKA Twigs was previously at Academy. Kunst had... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK -- Creative content company Alkemy X has added Robert Boocheck and Jordan Fein to its directorial roster. At Alkemy X, Boocheck has already wrapped a campaign for event-driven messaging platform Solace via The Barbarian Group while Fein recently helmed a commercial for Penn State Health. The two directors will be based out of the company’s New York office. A comedy/dialogue director with a flair for strong art direction, Boocheck was most recently repped by Honor Society. He was previously with... Read More, Comment

LOS ANGELES -- Director Delaney Bishop and producer Isabel Reyes have launched creative production studio Bishop Takes Queen (BTQ). The new venture has already turned out a pair of ideation-through-execution assignments directed by Bishop and produced by Reyes: Saban Brands’ Robyn Hoodie , a new series starring world-class extreme martial artist Jesse Jane McParland (the kid-centric show combines action mystery with classroom comedy, cyber ninjas, and forest kung fu fighting); and Trinidad James Vignettes , a... Read More, Comment

If you're going to pick someone to play a man who moves through the world with grace, style and a slight, wry smile, you could hardly do better than Robert Redford. As an actor, Redford broke hearts for decades with his blond good looks, sure, but even more by conveying just a tinge of other-worldliness, no matter if his character was a criminal or a mere cad. When Barbra Streisand touched his face at the end of "The Way We Were," she seemed almost to be encountering a wondrous alien. Well, now... Read More, Comment

The three things most couples fight about are said to be sex, money and kids. Tamara Jenkins has managed to up the ante for one stressed-out husband and wife by combining all of them in her latest movie. "Private Life " is a deeply personal — perhaps even invasive — look at the challenges facing one privileged, artsy New York couple: Rachel and Richard, played perfectly by Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti, who are hoping to get pregnant via assisted reproduction. They're trying to have a child... Read More, Comment

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- A U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit could delay the rollout of California's toughest-in-the country net neutrality law, which is set to take effect Jan. 1. Advocates hope California's new law to stop internet providers from favoring certain content or websites will push Congress to enact national rules or encourage other states to create their own. But legal experts say it's possible a judge will put the law on hold while the litigation plays out. If that happens, the delay could be... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- For users, Facebook's revelation of a data breach that gave attackers access to 50 million accounts raises an important question: What happens next? For the owners of the affected accounts, and of another 40 million that Facebook considered at risk, the first order of business may be a simple one: sign back into the app. Facebook logged everyone out of all 90 million accounts in order to reset digital keys the hackers had stolen — keys normally used to keep users logged in, but which could also... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- After the first week of the television season, Tim Allen has bragging rights over Candice Bergen. The return of Allen’s sitcom, “Last Man Standing,” reached 8.1 million viewers on Fox last Friday night. That was more than the 7.5 million people who tuned into the revival of Bergen’s “Murphy Brown” on CBS the night before. CBS heavily promoted the return of “Murphy Brown” after two decades, and Hillary Clinton had a cameo in the first episode. But the show’s first episode back couldn’t match the... Read More, Comment

NEW YORK (AP) -- For the first time in more than two years, a straight-up comedy is No. 1 at the box office. Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish's "Night School" debuted with $28 million in ticket sales, according to estimates Sunday. The race for the weekend top spot was, in the end, a laugher. Warner Bros.' animated release "Smallfoot," which cost about $80 million to make, trailed in second with $23 million. Not since Melissa McCarthy's "The Boss" topped the box office in April 2016 has a comedy that didn't mix... Read More, Comment

This video showcases an innovative campaign, “The Broken Bride Registry,” created by Toronto ad agency UNION for Interval House, a center for abused women and children. We’re taken to a registry booth at a bridal show that’s not what it seems. Instead of bed sheets and fine china, the registry is stocked with items such as cigarette burn cream, arm slings and untraceable cellphones. The booth comes alive when you scan these items, as they unlock a real-life story/video of domestic abuse. To... Read More, Comment

Havas London has unveiled its first work for The Department for Education (DfE) since winning its teacher recruitment business in May. The campaign highlights that teaching isn’t about what young people become, but who they become--and underscores the role teachers play in shaping young people’s lives. The :60 “Every Lesson Shapes a Life” is gaining exposure on TV and in cinema. Directed by Pulse Films’ thirtytwo, the emotive film follows the journey of a young girl named Abi, from her very... Read More, Comment

In this “Will Makes Us Family” global campaign for Under Armour, Droga5 NY focuses on rigorous training of athletes worldwide. In this anthem film we see these performers around the world--spanning different skill levels and body types--all united by a common denominator that got them to where they are today: Will. The determination, perseverance and dedication to training makes us all family and unites us no matter who we are, where we are from, or what we set out to accomplish. What do a... Read More, Comment

Wieden+Kennedy NY created this “Now It’s a Game” campaign for Thursday Night Football on FOX. The package includes an “anthem” piece as well as six individual key matchup spots--all directed by Craig Gillespie of MJZ (whose feature credits include the lauded I, Tonya ). Among the promos is “Diner” which introduces us to a waitress who explains to a customer why an NFL game--specifically this week 6 Thursday Night Football matchup pitting the Philadelphia Eagles against the New York Giants--is... Read More, Comment

“Rallying Cry,” a Nike spot celebrating female determination and persistence, marks the ad directing debut of Coralie Fargeat who comes fresh off of her first feature film, Revenge. Shot in Thailand, the Nike commercial highlights women breaking barriers in sports and captures the power behind them. It is a call to action, encouraging women to make the world listen. The tagline of the spot is “The louder we play, the more we change the game.” “Rallying Cry” features such notable athletes as... Read More, Comment

The CESAR® dog food brand debuted its “First Day Friends” campaign created by BBDO San Francisco, showcasing the power of pets to reduce stress. This film directed by Daniel and Katina Mercadante--aka the Mercadantes--shows a lad feeling uneasy about having to go to a new school. Each year, more than 7 million kids change schools, which can be a harrowing, lonely experience. However, the boy’s social anxiety is relieved when he is unexpectedly joined by his dog on the first day of school, which... Read More, Comment

Sophia Banks, who’s repped by production house BODEGA for commercials and branded content, independently directed this trailer for her film titled Unregistered which centers on a young couple in love (portrayed by Trevor Jackson and Dylan Penn). This sci-fi love story takes us to Los Angeles in the near future where the federal government has a “state of emergency” law that limits each household to one child due to overpopulation. Read More, Comment

Director Jordan Brady of production house Superlounge teamed with Jon Shore Creative on this comedy campaign for Denver area-based Stevinson Automotive, giving the car dealer pitchman genre a creative tune-up. Featuring Kent Stevinson, president of Stevinson Automotive, who is at ease in front of the camera and down for anything, the 14-spot campaign has a fun, local feel with national polish. The project marks a reunion for Stevinson, filmmaker Brady and creative director Shore, who previously... Read More, Comment

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